Mumbai reported 635 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking its total to 9,945, while the number of deaths rose to 387 with 26 people dying of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, officials said. Delhi registered 206 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday with the total rising to 5,104.

The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rose to 15,525 with the state reporting 841 new cases on Tuesday. The number of deaths rose to 617.

Across India, the number of COVID-19 cases rose by a record 3,900 on Tuesday and deaths topped the 1,500-mark with nearly 200 more fatalities.

In its 5 pm official update on the spread of the deadly virus infection, the Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 1,583 with 194 fatalities reported since Monday evening, while the number of cases saw a big jump of 3,875 to reach 46,711 cases.

Tamil Nadu reported more than 500 new cases on Tuesday, which took its tall past 4,000, while Gujarat also tested 441 more people positive for the virus, taking its total to more than 6,200. Several other states also reported rising numbers.

Experts, however, said the peak of this deadly virus outbreak was yet to come and may be witnessed in India over the next 4-6 weeks, while another spurt might be seen later during the winter season.

The numbers suggested that more than one-third of the confirmed cases across the country has been detected in the past one week, with only a few urban centres in a handful of states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi accounting for a bulk of it.

The government officials, however, maintained that India has managed to stave off a community transmission risk and the country remains in a "comfortable" position in terms of managing the COVID-19 crisis, though they cautioned against any laxity at the field level.

"We are very comfortable in terms of managing COVID-19 as of now, but any laxity at the field level or any lack of cooperation may have its consequences," joint secretary at the health ministry Lav Agarwal said during a press briefing on the COVID-19 situation.